AFTER 30 years of under investment in health facilities in Skipton, the first steps have been taken which could see a brand new hospital built in the town.

Craven, Harrogate and Rural District (CHARD) Primary Care Trust has submitted the outline summary case for new developments in Skipton and Settle.

One of the options put forward would mean a new development on the current site of Skipton General Hospital. If approved, the trust would invest around £20 million to improve health care in Skipton.

CHARD chairman Johnny Wardle said that investment within Craven was long overdue and there was the case to do something urgently. He stressed that if no alterations were made by the trust then it was possible that there would be no services left in Craven.

After a lengthy appraisal of all the options on the site of Skipton General Hospital, two options have been budgeted.

The preferred options for Skipton are:

* demolish all but the 1960s outpatient block, refurbish this block and substantially extend to provide the required accommodation (estimated capital cost: £17,844,000);

* demolish all existing buildings on the Skipton General Hospital site and build a new hospital (estimated capital cost: £20,502,000).

Currently the PCT manages Skipton General Hospital on a day-to-day basis, but Airedale NHS Trust still owns and services the site. However the transfer of ownership is being negotiated with Airedale NHS Trust.

The outline summary case identifies that within Craven there is a clear need to improve and build upon the quality of services currently offered to patients.

The report says that the buildings at Skipton General Hospital are "in a poor condition and the layouts do not provide the necessary flexibility required to cope with the demands of 21st century health care".

The trust hopes to provide dentistry and family planning services in the new development.

CHARD would also hope to reinstate some outreach outpatient clinics that have been removed by Airedale NHS trust due to financial pressures.

Board members gave their unanimous approval to the summary case and gave their support to the development of an outline business case by next September.

New proposals for the future development of health care in North Craven were also put forward by CHARD.

At the moment the trust owns and operates Castleberg Hospital in Giggleswick and Settle Health Centre where a range of services including physiotherapy, community nurses, social workers and family planning are based.

The preferred options for the future are:

* develop the Townhead Surgery and Settle Health Centre (estimated capital cost: £12,607,000);

* develop new facilities on a site yet to be identified and dispose of all sites in Settle and Castleberg Hospital (estimated capital cost: £15,465,000).